Mom Of Oxford Shooter Wants Out Of Prison During Appeal

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Jennifer Crumbley asked an Oakland County judge Thursday to release her from prison while her appeal proceeds through the courts, because she owns "no legal duty to the victims of her son's acts" and "she did not commit any crime recognized by law," according to court documents.

"It would be grossly unfair and unjust to keep Mrs. Crumbley locked up for years while this matter proceeds slowly — likely for years — before the appellate courts," Crumbley's lawyer Michael Dezsi said. "Given the overtly tenuous nature of these charges, the prosecution should not reap the reward of a lengthy unlawful incarceration before the Michigan Supreme Court can hear and decide this case."

Crumbley's appeal could eventually end up in front of the Michigan Supreme Court, but that will likely take years.

On Feb. 6, Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly Oxford school shooting that happened on Nov. 30, 2021. She became the first parent ever charged and convicted in connection with a school shooting. She sentenced to 10-15 years in prison, the maximum for involuntary manslaughter in Michigan.

Jennifer wants her conviction tossed and for a judge to grant her an acquittal or a new trial.

Dezsi argues that she was not given a fair trial because prosecutors did not share proffer agreements they signed with school officials for their testimony at her trial, though prosecutors deny that any school official was granted immunity for their testimony and that the agreements were not required to be shared.

Dezsi also argues that jury rules indicated she could be found guilty on two theories (failed to perform a legal duty in patenting or gross negligence) and because she had an ineffective lawyer, according to court documents.

"These proceedings were tainted from top to bottom and were borne out of prosecutorial overreach attempting to criminalize Mrs. Crumbley’s noncriminal conduct," Dezsi said.

Her husband, James Crumbley, was also convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting and was also sentenced to 10-15 years in prison.

Ethan Crumbley, James and Jennifer's son, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the deadly shooting that left four students dead and several others wounded. He recently asked for a new trial, but an Oakland County judge rejected that request, stating his "plea was knowingly, voluntarily, and accurately given."

The four children killed in the shooting were: Hana St. Juliana, 14; Justin Shilling, 17; Tate Myre, 16; and Madisyn Baldwin, 16.